Unit Anecdotes, Headlines & Stories

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Remember These

1966 | 1967 | 1968 | 1969 | 1970 | 1971

Personal Histories of the Platoon

The 42nd IPSD in Vietnam
by Larry Limer

The 42nd Infantry Platoon Scout Dog was activated in May of 1966. 2nd Lt. Larry Limar was assigned as commanding officer. Initially there were only sixteen privates and one NCO assigned to the unit when training began at Ft. Benning, Georgia. Several more would be added until there were thirty-two enlisted men and one officer. They would go through 12 weeks of training conducted by the NCO’s of the 26th IPSD. The training was completed in early August, 1966. The unit was reduced to the allotted strength of one officer and 26 enlisted men and then deployed to Vietnam at the end of August.

They arrived at Tan Son Nhut and spent their first month waiting to be assigned to a unit. Eventually they were assigned to the 1st Brigade of the 101st Airborne Division whose main base camp was Phan Rang. The platoon finally arrived at Phan Rang on Oct. 2, 1966. Once in Phan Rang they began training and conditioning the dogs and then completed the mandatory preparatory training for all new arrivals to the 1st. Brigade. Once finished with the training they moved to the forward area located at Tay Roa on Oct. 21, 1966.

The first operational assignment received by the unit was to assist in Operation Geronimo I. During the month of November the unit logged 311 days in the field with Patrick Copeland logging the most at 26 days. It was during this operation that the unit sustained its first dog casualty. Dog handler Gerald Corrigan lost his dog Sarge to hostile fire on November 2, 1966. This operation ended Dec. 3, 1966.

The unit then moved to Kontum to assist with Operation Pickett which began Dec. 9. There was a short break in the operation that began Dec. 23 and ran through Dec. 27. During the month of December the platoon logged 204 days in the field.

Sometime early in 1967 the units home base was established in Phan Rang. Initially the camp consisted of two tents, a vet shack, kennels, an out door latrine and a shower with an outside stand to shave at. The camp was named “Camp Bost” after dog handler Michael J Bost, who had been killed May 14, 1967. Mike's dog, Lady, was also KIA.

During 1967 the unit participated in Operation Seward/Tuy Hoa, Operation Malheur I & II/Duc Pho, and Operation Wheeler/Tam Ky. These operations were all planned as part of a multi task force operation of which the 1st Bde. 101st. Airborne Div. was a part.

During 1967 the unit also lost Gary Allen Rathbun and his dog Rex 8X60 on May 25th and Howard Lee Webb and his dog Dox on June 8th.

By 1968 many upgrades had been made. There were at least four semi permanent buildings with wood floors. The kennels had cement floors with a much needed roof. The shower and latrine had not improved.

In March of 1968 the 1st. Bde. relocated to Camp Eagle near the city of Phu Bai. The 42nd moved with them. The units compound consisted of two GP medium tents for the handlers, one GP medium for the vet tech, and smaller tents for the CO and platoon sergeants. There was also a shower and a two or three holler next to it. It was located on the side of a ravine and it even had some trees that offered some shade. The kennel area for the dogs was not as nice as it was in Phan Rang. Individual shelters for the dogs were built using ammo boxes, sand bags and a piece of plywood. Bunkers for the handlers were built and demonstrations were conducted to protest the slave labor. The unit would relocate within Camp Eagle sometime in August or September, 1968. There were significant upgrades in the living facilities with this relocation. The dog area was about the same. This new compound was located directly across from the kitchen facilities for the brigade. This came in handy for foraging parties to conduct midnight raids on the kitchen. On some occasions ice was obtained to cool down sodas and beer.

The 42nd IPSD participated in several different operations during 1968. When the 3rd Bde of the 82nd Airborne Division arrived it was under the operational control of the 101st. and the 42nd supported it along with the 1st Bde. The major operations in 1968 were Carentan I & II, Delaware, Somerset Plain and Nevada Eagle. Handlers from the 42nd played a significant role in these operations. Most of the missions during 1968 were conducted in the A Shau Valley and surrounding mountains. A Shau Valley was a major staging area for the NVA and a very dangerous place.

The following year, 1969, the unit also found most of their missions supporting operations that focused on trying to slow down the supplies, weapons and men coming into South Vietnam through the A Shau Valley. Operation Nevada Eagle continue through the month of Febrauary, 1969. Operation Kentucky Jumper began in March and ended some time in August 1969. The unit also supported 2/327 in Operation Massachusetts Striker during the same time that Kentucky Jumper was being executed.

The unit was also supporting an operation that was being conducted by the 5th Cav. located in Chu Lai. Several teams were sent. They spent about three months there. During this support operation with the 5th Cav. Elmer Ireland was killed.

We still need information for 1969-1971. Please email us with any information you might have.